National League

<BODY BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" LINK="#FFCC99" ALINK="#FF9966" VLINK="#FF9966">  <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#CC3300" FACE="Arial" ><B>The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website</B></FONT>     |   <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id152.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chatham Cup">Chatham Cup</A>   |   <B>National League</B>   |   <A HREF="id1664.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Archive Photos">Archive Photos</A>   |   <A HREF="nzs_world_cup_finals_squads.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NZs World Cup Finals squads">NZ's World Cup Finals squads</A></div> <div> <IMG SRC="04658020.png" border=0 width="600" height="2" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> National League</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="10" WIDTH="750" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 1656 WIDTH="340"><div> The growth of the game in this country was such in the years following the Second World War that the formation of a National League was imperative for growth to continue.</div> <bR> <div> The new concept to New Zealand soccer - its twin objectives being to provide top competitive soccer in as many geographical centres as possible and to maintain the best playing standards - was finally unveiled in 1970, with the nation's eight leading clubs playing each other on a home-and-away basis. The success enjoyed in that first season saw two more teams added to the competition for the 1971 campaign, and a further two sides were introduced six years later.</div> <bR> <div> Throughout the 1970s, it was not uncommon for 10,000-strong crowds to be in attendance at National League matches, such was its pulling power. Mt. Wellington and Christchurch United were the gun teams, in what were memorable days for New Zealand club soccer, leading up, of course, to the All Whites' 1982 successes.</div> <bR> <div> In the years following, however, the National League began to lose its novelty value, other sports, most notably rugby, having studied what soccer had done and set up their own national championships in direct opposition to the innovators of the concept in this country.</div> <bR> <div> This hurt clubs by way of reduced gates, while travel costs between the various venues around the country, which, in the 1980s, were as far-flung as Napier, Nelson, Dunedin, Gisborne and Auckland, meant that clubs really started to feel the pinch financially.</div> <bR> <div> Extending the league to fourteen clubs in 1987 stretched resources even more, and not just financial constraints. Quality playing resources were also at a premium, despite plenty of players willing to play at the highest level in New Zealand soccer. </div> <bR> <div> Few players who were involved in the last ten years of the competition were worthy of mention in the same breath as any number of their predecessors, whose skills and personalities had done so much to put bums on seats during the National League's hey-day of the 1970s and early 1980s. </div> <bR> <div> Those that warranted mention tended to play alongside each other, making their clubs - the likes of Gisborne City, Napier City Rovers and, in most recent years, Waitakere City and Central United, not forgetting those hardy perennials from The Mount and Christchurch - the dominant forces in the game from about 1983 onwards.</div> <bR> <div> Eventually, in 1992, the curtain came down on the National Soccer League in New Zealand, the replacement being a competition called the Superclub Championship, which lasted just three years. It was largely a regionally-based competition, with the top three teams in each region coming together after the round-robin phase to contest a Top Eight play-off competition, with the top four then going on to contest another series of play-offs to determine New Zealand soccer's Superclub.</div> <bR> <div> In some ways, this was worse than the National League, for while it saved the majority of clubs from having to travel the length and breadth of the country, it resulted in an even greater dilution of playing resources, and regular instances of lop-sided scorelines - wonderful stuff for the statistically-minded, not so for the game's greater good.</div> <bR> <div> A further change in format was made in 1996, and, with it, a change in playing season. Ten teams took part in the inaugural National Summer Soccer League, and the crowds came back, although not on the same scale as had been seen in the 1970s at venues such as Auckland's Newmarket Park, the spiritual home of New Zealand soccer, at least until Mother Nature played her hand, by way of a land subsidence, on a rainswept night in July 1979.</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="340"><div> The new league marked a return to the ideals of the original National Soccer League, with the number of teams involved being just right, given the quantity of quality players now playing the game in this country. As well, the crowd-pulling play-off concept was used to determine the competition's overall winner, despite the concerns of traditionalists, who considered the real league winners to be the team which won the round-robin phase.</div> <bR> <div> Once again, however, the issue of finance was to play a key role, and the demise of two of the inaugural contenders within a couple of years of the competition's commencement brought a premature end to what was, in principle, the ideal league competition as far as New Zealand soccer was concerned.</div> <bR> <div> The 1999 winter campaign has seen a return to regionally based football, with a twelve-team North Island League and an eight-team South Island League. Central United emerged as national club champions after the September final, downing Dunedin Technical 3-1 after extra-time.</div> <bR> <div> This concept lasted a year, before a return to a National League format came to pass, in the form of the National Club Championship. After dominating the competition in its round-robin phase, University-Mt. Wellington - in their first year of operation since amalgamation - were beaten 4-2 on penalties by Napier City Rovers in the Grand Final, after the combatants had served up two distinctly forgettable hours’ action on a North Harbour Stadium pitch which was, quite frankly, a disgrace to football.</div> <bR> <div> The 2001 campaign saw Miramar Rangers emerge triumphant over the premiership phase of the competition, but they stumbled at the final hurdle at the hands of Central United, who came from behind to win a gripping Grand Final 3-2, the only time they had defeated Miramar in four meetings throughout the season. </div> <bR> <div> A year on, and it was Miramar's turn to celebrate, as they downed the premiership phase champions, Napier City Rovers, 3-1 in the Grand Final, concluding a campaign which saw three of the four Auckland entries finishing in the bottom four, including the defending champions.</div> <bR> <div> The defending champions retained their crown the following season, a last-gasp winner from hat-trick hero Rupert Ryan seeing off East Auckland - a composite of the Eastern Suburbs, Ellerslie, Fencibles United and University-Mt. Wellington clubs - 3-2 in the Grand Final, a fitting finale to possibly the most closely contested National League for some years.</div> <bR> <div> It may well have marked the end of National League football as we've known it, however, as an eight-team franchise-based league kicked off in October 2004, replacing the club-based competition which had become uneconomical, with too many clubs falling on hard times as the pursuit of grandeur was all too often made at the expense of financial prudence.</div> <bR> <div> The inaugural competition saw Auckland City prove themselves cream of the crop over the round-robin phase of the competition, and they went on to clinch the inaugural NZ Football Championship with a last-gasp 3-2 victory over cross-town rivals and season-long title challengers, Waitakere United.</div> <bR> <div> They repeated the feat a year later, winning the Grand Final on penalties over Canterbury United after topping the table after twenty-one rounds.</div> <bR> <div> Four in a row proved beyond Auckland in 2008. Instead, their cross-town rivals, Waitakere United, finally shed the bridesmaid tag with which they were becoming accustomed, and swept all before them - National Youth League, NZFC Premiership and Grand Final, and potential back-to-back OFC Champions League crowns.</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>National Soccer League Honours</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="615" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> <B>Year</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> <B>Winners</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> <B>Province</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> <B>Runners-Up</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B>Province</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1970</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> Blockhouse Bay</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Eastern Suburbs</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1971</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Eastern Suburbs</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1972</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Blockhouse Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1973</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1974</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1975</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> North Shore United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1976</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wellington United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1977</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> North Shore United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Stop Out</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wellington</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1978</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1979</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1980</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Gisborne City</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Poverty Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1981</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wellington United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Dunedin City</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Otago</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1982</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> North Shore United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1983</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> Manurewa</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Franklin</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> North Shore United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1984</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> Gisborne City</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Poverty Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Papatoetoe</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Franklin</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1985</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wellington United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Gisborne City</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Poverty Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1986</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Miramar Rangers</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wellington</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1987</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Gisborne City</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Poverty Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1988</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1989</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Napier City Rovers</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hawke's Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Mt. Maunganui</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Bay of Plenty</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1990</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> Waitakere City</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Mt. Wellington     </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1991</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Christchurch United</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Miramar Rangers</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Wellington</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="46"><div> 1992</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> Waitakere City</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="20" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="71" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="142"><div> Waikato United</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="87"><div> Waikato</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Superclub Championship Grand Finals</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="618" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 53 WIDTH="44"><div> 1993</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Napier City Rovers</div> <div> G. Whittington (2),</div> <div> P. Cotton, D. Fletcher</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hawke's Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> 4-3</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="143"><div> Waitakere City</div> <div> R. Gray, C. Jorgenson, "oggie"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="89"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 36 WIDTH="44"><div> 1994</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> North Shore United</div> <div> S. Nickson (2), M. Elrick</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> 3-1</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Napier City Rovers</div> <div> "oggie"</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hawke's Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="44"><div> 1995</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Waitakere City</div> <div> T. Edge, C. Jorgenson, </div> <div> G. Gray, D. McClennan</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="71"><div> 4-0</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="143"><div> Waikato United</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="89"><div> Waikato</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>National Summer Soccer League Grand Finals</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="620" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="44"><div> 1996</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Waitakere City</div> <div> D. McClennan (2), M. Elrick,</div> <div> N. Harlock, C. Jorgenson</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="93"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="69"><div> 5-2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Miramar Rangers</div> <div> M. McGarry (2)</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="44"><div> 1997</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Waitakere City</div> <div> G. Gray, D. McClennan, </div> <div> N. Viljoen</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="93"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="69"><div> 3-1</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Napier City Rovers</div> <div> R. Goodacre</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hawke's Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="44"><div> 1998</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Napier City Rovers</div> <div> P. Halford (2), M. Akers,</div> <div> D. Batty, W. Gilbertson</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hawke's Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="69"><div> 5-2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Central United</div> <div> F. de Jong, M. Elrick</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="92"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>National Club Championship Grand Finals</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 36 WIDTH="44"><div> 1999</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="149"><div> Central United</div> <div> M. Elrick (3)</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 3-1</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Dunedin Technical</div> <div> J. Seales</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="91"><div> Otago</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="44"><div> 2000</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Napier City Rovers</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hawke's Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 0-0*</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Univ.-Mt. Wellington</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="91"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 36 WIDTH="44"><div> 2001</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="149"><div> Central United</div> <div> G. Eie (3)</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 3-2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Miramar Rangers</div> <div> G. Brown (2)</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="91"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="44"><div> 2002</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Miramar Rangers</div> <div> S. George, G. Little, </div> <div> K. Thompson</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 3-1</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Napier City Rovers</div> <div> D. Gearey</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Hawke's Bay</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="44"><div> 2003</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Miramar Rangers</div> <div> R. Ryan (3)</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 3-2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="146"><div> East Auckland</div> <div> K. Waetford (pen), </div> <div> J. Waugh</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="91"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> *  Napier, 4-2 on penalties</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>NZ Football Championship Grand Finals</B></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="621" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 36 WIDTH="44"><div> 2005</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Auckland City</div> <div> G. Young (2), L. Mulrooney</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 3-2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Waitakere United</div> <div> D. Ellensohn, K. Jordan</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="91"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 53 WIDTH="44"><div> 2006</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="149"><div> Auckland City</div> <div> K. Jordan, G. Young, "oggie"</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 3-3*</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury United</div> <div> S. Kelly (2), "oggie"</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Canterbury</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 52 WIDTH="44"><div> 2007</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Auckland City</div> <div> L. Mulrooney, N. Sykes, </div> <div> P. Urlovic</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 3-2</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Waitakere United</div> <div> J. Campbell, C. Menapi</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="91"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 36 WIDTH="44"><div> 2008</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Waitakere United</div> <div> "oggie", A. Pearce</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="94"><div> Auckland</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="66"><div> 2-0</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Team Wellington</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="91"><div> Wellington</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> *  Auckland, 4-3 on penalties</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>For season-by-season results in the National League, go </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSo"><B>here</B></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id27.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A History of New Zealand Soccer">A History of New Zealand Soccer</A>     <A HREF="http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSoccer/id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/NZClubSo">NZ Club Soccer</A></div> <bR> <bR> </BODY>